Woman Charged With Threatening Mass Shooting At Gateway Community College

NEW HAVEN — A 19-year-old woman who allegedly threatening a mass shooting at Gateway Community College is facing a federal charge.

Amanda Bowden, of East Haven, is charged with one count of false information and hoaxes and faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. She is not a student at Gateway and has no apparent links to the school, according to college officials.

She claimed by text and phone conversation that she was planning a suicidal bombing and mass shooting at Gateway, according to the criminal complaint against her.

Between Feb. 6 and 14 she told these plans first to a friend and then to an undercover law enforcement agent, according to the complaint.

In an unrecorded conversation with the undercover agent, Bowden discussed the shooting at Sandy Hook, praising shooter Adam Lanza and stating a desire to one-up him, the complaint states.

During these conversations, Bowden claimed to have both firearms and two napalm-based bombs at her house, according to the complaint.

Bowden's home was searched by investigating officers on Tuesday and no weapons were discovered, the complaint states.

Bowden appeared before a U.S. Judge on Wednesday and is being detained until a hearing on March 1, the U.S. Attorney said.

"In this day and age, the making of any threat will not and cannot be tolerated," Kimberly K. Mertz, the FBI Special Agent in charge, said in a statement. "There will be consequences."